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Storytelling is an aspect of research that has gathered significant popularity but is less commonly discussed in the context of student feedback. This paper focuses on how it can be applied to improve a dialogue and relationship with the student so that their learning can be understood in more depth. Forty-seven undergraduates studying an Early Childhood degree in England shared their stories and analysis indicated a synergy between the content, the patterns and themes that are found in fairy tales. This framework led to a deeper insight into the factors that impact their learning experiences. Three structures found in fairy tales are described in this paper; 'contractual', which explains how rules that reflect the values of the individual are shaped by society and culture; 'performative', that communicate emotions experienced during struggles and challenges; and 'disjunctive', that describe the journey of change and transformation within the story (Greimas AJ (1983) Structural Semantics. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press). Within each story the author identified examples of aspects that were strange and familiar and others that were familiar, yet strange, uncovering students' priorities and uprooting the writer's hidden assumptions (Bruner J (2003) Making Stories: Law, Literature, Life. Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University Press). The paper concludes that when lecturers analyse storytelling in this way it becomes a dialogue that contributes to relational pedagogy.

The real-world navigation of ethics-in-practice versus the bureaucracy of institutional ethics remains challenging. This is especially true for research with children and young people who may be considered vulnerable by the policies and procedures of ethics committees but agentic by researchers. Greater transparency is needed about how this tension is navigated in practice to provide confidence and effective strategies for social researchers, including those new to the field, for negotiating informed consent. Twenty-three social science researchers with a range of experience were interviewed about their practices for gaining informed consent from children and young people in social research and the development of their 'ethics in practice' over time. Main themes focused on navigating ethics protocols within institutions, practices to prepare for data collection, and a critical evaluation of the resources that can be applied to gaining consent and managing relationships. A range of methods and concrete steps that address ethical challenges are outlined to illustrate what can be done in practice to achieve authentic consent and appropriate participation.

Evaluations of student's learning experiences hold increasing currency in deciding how to improve teaching and learning. This article proposes that students who use story-telling for evaluation help to facilitate this. Adding to previous research that shows the benefit and challenges of gathering qualitative feedback, stories written by 47 Childhood Studies undergraduate students while at university in England explain their learning experiences. Analysis of the content of their stories identified what their learning journey had been like providing useful information to shape teaching and support their wellbeing; both important measures for universities because they are factors that influence retention and the number of applicants to their institution. The research concludes that stories written by students are useful because they enable the HE teacher to engage in new ways of listening and responding to personal accounts that communicate what the learning experience is like for students and what is important to them.

At least 20-30% of offenders within the criminal justice system (CJS) have learning disabilities or difficulties. This creates significant challenges in relation to meeting their information needs about rights, entitlements, processes and procedures. We report a pilot project where widgit Symbols were used to create more accessible information about rights and entitlements for people entering custody. The "widgit" Symbol custody sheets were used in two Hampshire Constabulary custody centres for a 4-week period and feedback gathered from 14 custody officers and inspectors. The views of 27 other important stakeholders, including young people with autism and their families, appropriate adults, and senior personnel within the CJS, were gathered about the sheets through interviews and focus groups. The reaction to the sheets was overwhelmingly positive with many participants suggesting that symbol-based information in custody could be rolled out nationally and also extended more widely to include other parts of the CJS.

The aim of this paper is to present a way of supporting parents that can lead to positive outcomes for families. The findings and processes from a study in England of six parents' experiences of support services for their young children with special needs are discussed in making the case that co-constructing the stories of parent and researcher experiences can become a valuable conduit for improving support. An ethnographic case study approach with narrative analysis was used, and this paper shows how the parents' narratives, interwoven with the reflections of the researcher/early years professional, suggest engaged listening as a way forward for professionals and parents (as well as researchers) to understand each other. Stories that each party is fearful of telling or hearing illustrate the balance of fragility and resilience in their assumptions and relationships.

Evaluations of student's learning experiences hold increasing currency in deciding how to improve teaching and learning. This article proposes that students who use story-telling for evaluation help to facilitate this. Adding to previous research that shows the benefit and challenges of gathering qualitative feedback, stories written by 47 Childhood Studies undergraduate students while at university in England explain their learning experiences. Analysis of the content of their stories identified what their learning journey had been like providing useful information to shape teaching and support their wellbeing; both important measures for universities because they are factors that influence retention and the number of applicants to their institution. The research concludes that stories written by students are useful because they enable the HE teacher to engage in new ways of listening and responding to personal accounts that communicate what the learning experience is like for students and what is important to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary Many people who commit crimes in the UK have learning difficulties or disabilities., The police give people information to read in custody, but this information can be confusing., This project presented this information in an easier-to-read way using symbols and simple words., We asked different people what they thought of the information and most views were very positive., Summary At least 20-30% of offenders within the criminal justice system ( CJS) have learning disabilities or difficulties. This creates significant challenges in relation to meeting their information needs about rights, entitlements, processes and procedures. We report a pilot project where widgit Symbols were used to create more accessible information about rights and entitlements for people entering custody. The widgit Symbol custody sheets were used in two Hampshire Constabulary custody centres for a 4-week period and feedback gathered from 14 custody officers and inspectors. The views of 27 other important stakeholders, including young people with autism and their families, appropriate adults, and senior personnel within the CJS, were gathered about the sheets through interviews and focus groups. The reaction to the sheets was overwhelmingly positive with many participants suggesting that symbol-based information in custody could be rolled out nationally and also extended more widely to include other parts of the CJS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 20 years of research has enhanced our understanding about the methodological and ethical benefits and challenges of involving children and young people in research. Concurrently, the increasing bureaucratisation of research ethics governance within UK universities has reified expectations about the methods used to gain informed consent for research participation. This paper explores how social researchers in the UK are navigating this tension and whether there is any scope for innovation through the use of technologies in how children and young people provide informed consent to take part in research. We conclude there is a need for the co‐creation of research information with children and young people and greater transparency by sharing creative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]